Resolved How to get the default printer to really be default

I find that, either in MS Word or any PDF reader, even though my HP laser is the default printer, if I have just done a print-to-pdf, that clicking on the printer icon after printing to PDF, will bring up the PDF printer function again, instead of simply sending the file to be printed by my default printer (the laser).

Is there any way I can get my default laserjet, to actually get any print job, unless I specifically tell Windows to use the print to pdf function? I print often, and always like to use the printer icon in my MS Word QAT toolbar, to print from my laser printer.

It almost appears to be useless to have Windows declare any printer to be the default, if Windows will always assume that the printer you want to use, is the one that you used the last time you did a print job.

 

OK, I was hoping for some registry work-around or something like that. Thanks anyways.

 

Hi Paul, FWIW, Go to Control Panel > Printers > How many printers are shown?
I've just Deleted MS XPS printer/PDF printer if they are shown in there and that should leave your Default printer as the only one to use.
Works for me. Cheers Neil.

 

Thanks, but the issue is that I DO want to use both printers---both my laserjet as well as my print to pdf (CutePDF), so I don't want to simply delete it.

 

FWIW, the issue is not resolved and I'd like to leave it unmarked (as resolved) until/unless I get a solution.

 

As Arie pointed out probably no way to have changing the active printer not "˜stick’.

However if using CutePDF to just save the file in pdf format - use words Save As function to save as PDF instead.

That way haven’t changed the active printer.

If using Word 2007 and Save As doesn’t have PDF option will need this addin by MS.

 

I still prefer the CutePDF print-to-PDF functionality over Word's Save as PDF function. I've made a couple of PDFs in the past with Word, and they occasionally had glitches opening up in a browser (never had that happen with CutePDF), and others have told me the same thing with files that I know I created with Word.

 

That macro (the one on Graham Mayor's site) works!!!!!!!!!!!!! absolutely love it.

On my next break from yardwork, I'll give it an icon and a spot on my Quick Access Toolbar. I've been longing for something like this for quite a while... thanks a lot.

 

Graham Mayor's macro on his site, that was linked to above, works.

However, I just got one tweak, that mandates that the printer only print one copy. One line was deleted, one was added to this simple macro. If you would like to use this new tweak, just copy and paste this when you create a new macro, INSTEAD of the code on that other web page:

Sub MyPrint()
Dim sCurrentPrinter As String
sCurrentPrinter = ActivePrinter
ActivePrinter = "\\CYNTHIA-HP\HP LaserJet 1018 "
Application.PrintOut Copies:=1
ActivePrinter = sCurrentPrinter
End Sub

Like I said, it is the original macro code, with one line tweaked so that you only print one copy. That also has been a bugaboo of mine, as I very often swtich from 20-45 copies, to one copy, and often hear my laserjet printing up numerous copies when I only wanted one, wasting my paper.

Thanks again for posting that link, Tony. Its already sitting on my QAT.

 

Only thing I'd like to add (this is probably eye-rollling time for the pros here, but it stumped me till I figured it out) is that on that macro, when you enter the printer name, if it is a shared printer, you can't just copy and paste the name of the printer, copied from the Devices and Printers, Properties window. You have to use \\computer name\printer name.

 

And if Word isn't installed, I kick them.